DriveThruRPG Print-on-Demand Prices Increasing Again

Back in March 2025 we reported that print-on-demand costs at DriveThruRPG were increasing by as much as 50% in the US, with the price of a 300-page black-and-white hardcover rising from $13.08 to $19.04. The effect in the UK was much less pronounced, being only around 3-4%.

Now, less than a year later, DTRPG is increasing its PoD prices again. These new prices take effect on February 1st, 2026.

DTRPG uses Lightning Source as its printing partner and has print centres in the US, UK, and Australia. According to DTRPG's publisher newsletter, UK and Australia prices will increase by 3%, and US prices will increase by either 4% or 5%, depending on format--standard color will go up by +4%, while premium color and black & white will increase by +5%.

DriveThruRPG notes that the increase "is not driven by policy or positioning, but simply reflects the rising costs of paper and other materials, labor, and operations involved in producing physical books worldwide."

 

[Brendan Byrd]

There are several titles that I would like to buy from the TSR/WotC backlist.

However, I am one of those people who are boycotting all non-essential purchases from the USA.
If there is a UK/EU source for that backlist, I’d like to know about it. I don’t really care about the shipping cost.

 

[Scott J. Holden]

If only they would allow print-on-demand competition....you should be able to select where you wish to print the product to get the best quality. DTRPG can still take their cut. I'll bet that competition would lower prices.

Personally, I will not back any KS projects that use POD DTRPG codes. I have purchased 2 POD DTRPG products and will not got that route again. They fell apart very quickly.

I hear you. Lightning Source is still the best price for POD, even with the increases. We do run the numbers and investigate other options periodically. We're probably about due to go through that process again this year.

If you have a book that falls apart, you should reach out to DriveThru customer service. Our replacement policy is very generous.

 

[dbolack]

TL;DR: It really seems like Canada should be able to print its own books and I hope we get there.

Is Quebecor no longer a going concern?

 

[Scott J. Holden]

There are several titles that I would like to buy from the TSR/WotC backlist.

However, I am one of those people who are boycotting all non-essential purchases from the USA.
If there is a UK/EU source for that backlist, I’d like to know about it. I don’t really care about the shipping cost.

All DriveThru POD orders for UK and EU (and most other destinations abroad, frankly) are printed in the UK.

Orders from AU and NZ are printed in AU.

US printing ships only to N. and S. America.

 

[Scott J. Holden]

Is Quebecor no longer a going concern?

As a fellow Canuck living in the Niagara region, this is a matter near and dear to my heart. But in the past, any options we've looked at in Canada were non-starters.

We do need to do another round of investigation about other printing options. It's just a matter of finding the time.

 

[dbolack]

As a fellow Canuck living in the Niagara region, this is a matter near and dear to my heart. But in the past, any options we've looked at in Canada were non-starters.

We do need to do another round of investigation about other printing options. It's just a matter of finding the time.

Wasn't really a suggestion for PoD I was not aware of them ever offering such. More a question of if they still ran presses.

 

[cbwjm]

Lost my old accounts and had to make a new one. :/

Lightning Source does print in Australia, and DriveThru has been selling POD from there for a couple years now.

That's good to know, looks like PoD is back on the menu! Ordering other books from the states though, still a no go.

 

[Superchunk77]

TL;DR: It really seems like Canada should be able to print its own books and I hope we get there.

Fellow Canadian here, and yes, I agree we should be able to produce our own books, along with many other manufactured goods within Canada. But unfortunately our current government party in power relies on heavy carbon taxes and anti-small business regulations that make such endeavors infeasible.

I use a USA PO box (as I live about 30 mins from the border to Washington) that saves me a ton of money on physical goods from the USA. Combine that with a Nexus card and you don't need to wait at the border, and don't pay duties or extra taxes on 99% of your purchases as long as you keep your trips to under 200 dollars in goods.

 

[Fenris-77]

I hear we have a lot of, you know, pulp and paper and such, so yeah.

 

[Brendan Byrd]

All DriveThru POD orders for UK and EU (and most other destinations abroad, frankly) are printed in the UK.

Orders from AU and NZ are printed in AU.

US printing ships only to N. and S. America.

Thanks for verifying what I suspected, which is that DriveThruRPG is not a viable option.